Priyadarshan to begin new innings as teacher

Thiruvananthapuram: Acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan, who has spent 34 years in the film industry and has done 91 films in various languages, is set to begin a new career as a teacher, which was his father’s desire. In a freewheeling chat with IANS at his recently modified home in the capital city, he touched upon his career.

“I was the black sheep in my family and my father always wanted me to become a teacher. After finishing graduation, he asked me what I planned to do. I told him I am turning a film director and he asked me, ‘Is cinema a profession?’,” recounted the filmmaker, who works predominantly in Malayalam and Hindi languages, besides making movies in Tamil and in Telugu too.

Priyadarshan also said that if it was not for his librarian father who inculcated in him the habit of reading, he perhaps would not have reached where he is today.

“Maybe with another nine more (films which completes his century), then I will turn a full-time teacher to impart what I learnt to aspiring students who wish to make a career in the film industry. Already I have agreed to take a few classes at the FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune, which will begin shortly,” said the Padma Shri awardee.

The 59-year-old master filmmaker who never studied in any film institute nor worked as an assistant with any director considers himself hugely lucky for having reached thus far.

“I am planning to share what I learnt the hard way — by even starving on the streets of Chennai — to film students on a full-time basis. Personally speaking, I never ever dreamt I will reach where I am now and it’s perhaps that I read a lot and adapted to technological developments,” said Priyadarshan.